Furniture construction



M w M m Frank Smith F. SMITH FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 20, 1926 Nov. 19, 192-9.

Patented Nov. 19, 1929 FRANK SMITH, F:, SALEM, oHIo PATENT OFFICE ronmroan CONSTRUCTION}.

- Application fil ed October 20, 1926; SefiaIfNo. 142,922.-

The presentinvention relates to improvements in furniture construction, and relates more particularly to-that construction or upbolstered furniture having a finished frame giwhich projectspast the top and side margins of the upholstering' In the present construction of furniture of this typeya hard wood ribis carried by the frame and'to the top edge of which the up- 1o holstering materialsare tacked, and which construction results in a hard uncomfortable cushioning-being formed along the top edge of the cushion. Y

It is therefore a primary object of the prescut invention to provide means whereby furniture of this'type may be constructed with a soft cushion top at the back rest, and yet leave a finished frame projecting above the upholstering. c i A further object of the invention is to provide a back rest construction for chairs, sofas and the like, whereby it. willfb'e possibleto' retain the soft top of the upholstering and at the same time have afinished frame extending above the same. I i v A still further obje'ct-ofthe invention re side'sin the provision of a back rest construction for articles-of furniture having proecting finished frames, which will permit of 80 the back rest being constructed of a nature far more resilient and' comfortable than with the existing types of construction for articles of furniture of this type, land which construc- 1 tion will also give shape to the' upholstering of the furniture. r r I A still furtherobject oflthe invention residesf'in-the-provision of a back wire adapted" to be'disposed beneath the upholstering ma- I terial at the upper portionthereof and be secured to a top row of springs of theback rest construction in a manner whereby the wire will limit outwardmovement of the top row of springs, and retain a soft top along the j .upper edge of the upholstering material by retaining the upper portion of the upholstery material normally spaced from the frame of the back rest.

A still further object of theinvention is to I provide an improved back rest'construction which is susceptible of application to various types of articles of furniture of that type having a finished frame extending past theed es of the upholstering. i

ther objects and advantages of the invention Willbe apparent during the course of the following detailed description taken chair embodying the improved construction.

'FigureQ is a view of the front side of the I upper portion of a back rest and showing the upholstering removed for'illustrating the arrangement of the cushioning means along the upper edge ofthe rest.

Figure 3 isa} fragmentary sectional view similar-to Figure 1 and showing the upholstering' removed for better illustrating the details of construction. V

Figure l is a perspective vi'ewof the retaininfiwire 01' Stay for the upperrow of springs.

eferring-tothe drawing in detail,and whereinsimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,'-theletter A designates a frame formingthe back of achair or the like, B a cushionin'gjmeans for supporting of an up holstering Cjaiid D meansfor providing a soft cushion at the top of the upholster'ing C and allowing for a finished frame to project abeve;theupholstering. g I if-Wh'le the means'n has been shown applied tothe backrest construction of a chair, it isto be "understood that, the same may be equally welllemployed in connection with various other'articles of furniture such as sofas and the like embodying spring cushioning means,

having aQfinished frame which, projects above the' v'uphol stering. I TheframeA and which is in most instances of wood construction, embodies the finished top piece or rail 5 and the upright side pieces e rtend 'to'the seatportion of the chairl'ai'id serve as supports for the back restby means of tacks or the like to the rear side of the frame A. Arranged in horizontal rows between the frame side pieces 6, are symmetrically arranged rows of springs 9 and 10, the uppermost row of springs 10 being disposed directly below the lower edge of the top rail 5 as is clearly illustrated in the drawings. The inner or rear convolution of each of the springs is secured in any suitable manner to the backing 7 for rigidly tying the strings in adjusted position upon the backing. These springs 9 and 10 are of the usual construction as employed for the cushioning of various articles of furniture, and which types of springs usually have their intermediate convolutions of less diameter than the terminal convolutions of the springs.

The upholstery G and which is intended to be disposed over the front ends of the cushioning springs, in the example shown embodies an inner covering 12 which may be formed of burlap or other suitable vmaterial, and an outer covering or facing 13. A suitable filler or padding 14 is disposed between the inner and outer covers 12 and 13 respectively. The marginal edges of the covering materials 12 and 13 are tacked to the wooden frame A as by tacks or other suitable fastening elements 15, inwardly of the outer marginal edge of the frame, for leaving a portion of the finished frame projecting past the marginal edges of the upholstering. The usual finishing tape 16 may be secured over the fastening tack as is the usual practice.

The forward or outermost convolution of each of the cushioning springs is secured to the inner covering 12 by means of suitable ties 17 for retaining the forward ends of the springs in proper spaced apart relation.

lVith. the method of construction as now employed, and in which the upholstering material are tacked to the hard wood rib carried by the frame A, the uppermost horizontal row of springs 10 is omitted and the up- 5; bolstering material extends from the row of springs 9 and is secured to the frame A along a line at a point about which the tacks 15 are shown in the drawing. This construction results ina hard, uncomfortable cushioning v along the top edge of the upholstery in that type of furniture where a finished frame projects above the upholstering. The present invention aims to overcome this objection able feature apparent in the present type of construction for furniture of this character, by providing a construction whereby a soft cushion top will be formed for the back and leaving a finished frame projecting past the marginal edges of the upholstering. 7

Referring now to the means D for permitting of a construction being had whereby a soft cushion top will be formed for the back rest construction, in the example shown the same embodies a pairof rectangular shaped spacer blocks 20 secured in any suitable man- .ner to the front face of each of the side pieces 6. These blocks 20 and which extend longitudinally of their supporting side pieces 6, are preferably secured adjacent the inner edges of the side pieces and in horizontal alignment transversely of the frame as illustrated in Figure 2. The thickness of the block 20 will be determined upon the distance at which it is desired to have the top portion of the upholstery G project from the face of the frame A. These blocks 20 are adapted to receive and support the lower ends of a bridge piece 22 in parallel spaced relation at the front face of the frame A.

Thi bridge piece 22, and which may be formed of a suitably heavy piece of spring wire, embodies a body portion 23 bent to conform with the general outline of the top rail 5 of the back rest, and at each end of the body portion is provided a depending arm 24.- having inwardly turned terminal portions 25 which form anchoring terminals for attachment of the lower ends of the arms to the respective blocks 20. The inwardly turned terminals 25 are secured to the blocks 20 by means of staples 26 which are driven into the blocks at a point relatively near the bottoms of the blocks, with the arms 24 of the bridge piece lying in surface contact with the front face of their respective supporting blocks. By so having the lower end of the arms 24 anchored to the front faces of the blocks 20, that portion of the bridge piece which projects upwardly past the top edge 27 of the blocks, will be caused to normally extend parallel with the front face of the upper rail 5. The uppermost row of cushioning springs 10, and which form a part of the means D, have their foremost convolutions secured at their upper portions to the body portion 23 of the bridge piece in any suitable manner, and in the example shown the body portion 23 is shown tied to the springs by means of wrappings of twine 28 which are bound about the foremost convolution of the springs. If desirable,metal clips or any other suitable mean may be vprovided for attaching of the forward portions of the springs 10 t0 the body portion of the bridge piece 22. By observing the drawings, it, will be seen that the body portion 23 of the bridge piece is disposed in overlying relation with the face of the top rail 5, that is, is disposed inwardly of the upper and lower edges of the rail. V v V A retaining means 30 is provided for the upper portion of the bridge piece 22, and in the example shown constitutes one end portion of the tying twines 28, the twine ex tending rearwardly from each of the springs 10 and having its rear end secured to the face of the rail 5 as by means of a tack or other fastening element 31. This flexible retaining means 30 may or may not form a portion of the tying twines 28, and serves for limiting outward movement of the upper portion of the bridge piece 22, the bridge piece being normally urged outwardly at its upper portion by the horizontal row of springs 10 which are anchored at their forward portions to the body portion of the bridge piece.

By so anchoring the upper portion of the foremost convolutions of the spring 10 to the bridge piece body portion 23, it will be seen that the lower portions of the springs 10 are allowed to spring forwardly for disposing the foremost convolutions at an angle conforming to the curvature of the upholstering C.

After the bridge piece 22 has been properly secured to the springs 10 and anchored to the rail 5 by the flexible retaining means 30, the upholstering material may then be drawn over the springs and the bridge piece and attached to the face of the rail 5 outwardly of the tacks 31, as by means of the tacks 15. This bridge piece 22 aside from holding the springs 10 in proper position, retains the upper portion of the upholstering material in a position conforming to the contour of the rail 5, and presents a relatively deep soft cushion at the top of the frame. Thus it will be seen that this particular construction makes possible, the building of furniture with a soft cushion top at the back and yet leaving a finished frame projecting above and to the side edges of the upholstering. With the method of construction heretofore employed, it has not been possible to retain a soft top for the upholstering and at the same time have a finished frame projecting above the upholstering.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that an improved back construction for upholstered furniture has been-provided embodying an arrangement whereby furniture of the character defined may be constructed with a soft cushion top at the back and yet leaving a finished frame proecting above the upholstering. It will also e apparent that a novel construction has been provided whereby a comfortable back will be provided since the back may be constructed far more resilient than with the present type of construction for furniture of this type, and which construction will also give shape-to the upholstering of the furniture.

Changes in detail ma be made to the specific form of the invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A back construction for furniture comprising a frame embodying side pieces and a top rail connecting the upper ends of the side piece, spaced cushioning springs supported inwardly of the frame and projecting forwardly therefrom, spacer blocks mounted in horizontal alignment upon the front faces of the side pieces and adjacent the top rail, a bridge piece embodying a main body portion and depending arms at each end thereof anchored to the front faces of said spacer blocks, means for securing the body portion of the bridge piece to the foremost convolution of each of the uppermost cushioning springs, and an upholstering extending over the springs and bridge piece and secured to said frame.

2. A back construction for furniture comprising a frame embodying side pieces and a top rail connecting the upper end of the side pieces, spaced cushioning springs supported in rows inwardly of the frame and projecting forwardly therefrom, spacer blocks mounted in horizontal alignment upon the front faces of the frame side pieces, a resilient bridge piece comprising a body portion and depending arms at each end thereof provided at their lower ends with inwardly turned extensions, means for hingedly securing the inwardly turned extensions to the front faces of the spacer blocks and with the bridge piece arms engaging in surface contact the front faces of the spacer blocks for retaining the body portion of the bridge piece in spaced relation forwardly of the top rail of the frame, means for securing the foremost convolution of the uppermost row of springs to the body portion of the bridge piece, means connecting the bridge piece body portion with the frame top rail for limiting forward movement of the bridge piece, and an upholstering extending over the springs and bridge piece and secured to said frame.

FRANK SMITH. 

